Launch of Report on the UNDG Consultations on the Post 2015 Agenda: "The Global Conversation Begins"

New York, 21 March 2013 – The United Nations presents today, the first findings from an unprecedented global conversation through which people from all over the world have been invited to help Member States shape the future development agenda that will build on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) after their target date at the end of 2015.

Three emerging priorities for the future development agenda, referred to as 'the Post-2015 agenda,' can be identified:

First, the progress on MDGs should be accelerated and adapted to contemporary challenges, such as growing inequalities within countries and the impact of globalization.

Second, the consultations point to the need for a universal agenda to address challenges like environmental degradation, unemployment, and violence.

Third, people want to participate, both in the agenda-setting as well as monitoring the progress in implementation of the Post-2015 framework.

So far, the United Nations has engaged more than 200,000 people from 189 countries through a mix of digital media, mobile phone applications, conferences, and paper ballot surveys. UN teams in Member States are undertaking special efforts to ensure that groups that are usually absent from participation in global processes – for example, women, indigenous communities, the youth, people with disabilities – are consulted on what they see as priorities for development of their communities.

There are several tracks available for people to participate in framing the next development agenda: there are almost 100 national consultations in Member States; there are eleven thematic consultations on issues such as inequalities, food security, and access to water; people continue to contribute their ideas through the World We Want 2015 web site; and people vote for six out of 16 priorities through the MY World survey.

Findings from the global conversation will be delivered to the UN Secretary-General, Heads of State and Government attending the 2013 UN General Assembly, the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals, and other processes.

The "Global Conversation Begins" report will be presented to the High-level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda - chaired by Prime Minister of UK David Cameron and Presidents Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia and Susilo Yudhoyono of Indonesia - in the panel's meeting in Bali at the end of this month.